In April 2022, the Foundation held two tax preparation days designed to support access to the federal 2021 expanded child tax credit, which was expiring at the end of 2022. Volunteers from AARP joined us in this effort, and in total we helped 59 community members complete and file their 2021 tax returns. This outreach effort targeted underserved populations who …
The New Mexico Funders Collaborative, a network of statewide funders committed to pooling time, energy and resources for the betterment of New Mexico communities, awarded $55,000 to two organizations in 2022. Recipients of the previous year’s grants were asked to nominate groups they either worked closely with or whose services they were familiar with. The two organizations chosen for the …
In 2022, the owners of Warehouse 505 fulfilled a years-long dream of expansion, acquiring and remodeling a new, larger facility in a historic building in downtown Albuquerque. The youth center, which has been in operation since 2009 (originally called Warehouse 508), spent more than $200,000 on the remodel. “It’s a three-story old hotel building. To make it work, we had …
The New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC) didn’t have it easy in 2022, according to its Executive Director Sachi Watase. “The last two years revealed increasingly dangerous threats to the communities we serve, in addition to the continual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. Following an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. throughout the pandemic, the violence …
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving trails, outdoor facilities and wildlife habitat on New Mexico public lands. Since 1982, NMVFO has organized, managed, promoted and recruited volunteers to work on outdoor service projects throughout the state. In 2022, the organization celebrated its 40th anniversary with a picnic honoring founding and long-term …
Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) was formed in 1995 to promote art appreciation and programming in Mountainair and the surrounding Estancia Valley. Its 113-year-old building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of only a few commercial structures in the state to have a basement. With grants from the Foundation, MMAC preserves and improves the structure, …
Sometimes, an encounter can change the course of a life. That’s what happened to Stanley Weinstein, Best Chance’s Executive Director, after he retired from his first career. While teaching meditation to incarcerated individuals at Central New Mexico Correctional Facility, he met with several Peer Health Educators. The question of how to address the pressing needs of individuals leaving incarceration emerged. …
Casa de Salud Executive Director Anjali Taneja is extremely proud of the fact that the healthcare organization was able to remain operational throughout the pandemic without a single day of closure. This nonprofit clinic provides healthcare services for immigrants, low-income and uninsured New Mexicans, queer/transgender community members, drug users, and people seeking treatment and recovery for addictions. It has deep …
Jennifer Weiss-Burke, Executive Director of Serenity Mesa Recovery Center, had more referrals for services in 2022 than when the center opened in 2015. “This highlights the real impact of fentanyl and drug use,” she said. “Pre-pandemic, we were seeing mostly clients over 18. Post-pandemic, we’re seeing more under the age of 18 — lots of 14 and 15-year-olds.” She attributes …
“We are the only place in New Mexico for children to get legal representation and support,” said Bette Fleishman, JD, MA, the Executive Director of Pegasus Legal Services for Children. Pegasus Legal Services for Children is a nonprofit agency that provides civil legal services to children, youth and their caregivers, including direct representation in the 2nd Judicial District and the …
